Characteristics of Circulatory γδ T cells in Patients with Symptomatic Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Our findings suggest dysfunctional γδ T cells in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with clinical symptoms of abnormal liver function. We observed that the frequencies of γδ T cell subsets: terminally differentiated (CD27-CD45RA+) γδ T cells was higher, while central memory (CD27+CD45RA-) and effector memory (CD27-CD45RA-) were lower in CHB patients with liver disease. We also found elevated expression of exhaustion markers-Tim-3 and Lag-3 along with CD69 on γδ T cells from these patients that may further contribute in the downregulating γδ T cell functions.